Editions

El Salvador 1 Ecuador 5: Plata inspires friendly rout

Joao Plata scored his first goals for Ecuador as the South Americans crushed El Salvador 5-1 in New Jersey on Tuesday.

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Written BySacha Pisani

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Real Salt Lake forward Plata - earning his fourth international
cap - netted a first-half brace to inspire Ecuador to victory in
their international friendly fixture at Red Bull Arena.

In-form striker Enner Valencia was also on target in the opening
half before Rafael Burgos pulled a goal back for El Salvador from
the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

But that proved to be nothing more than a consolation as
Valencia netted his second 17 minutes from time - taking his tally
to three goals in two games - and substitute Cristian Penilla
completed the scoring late on with his international strike.

Colombia coach Sixto Vizuete made five changes to the team that
drew with United States on Friday, with goalkeeper Alexander
Dominguez, Jonathan Gonzalez, Plata and Junior Sornoza called into
the starting XI.

Veteran defender Ivan Hurtado, 40, was also named in the side
and wore the captain's armband after four years away from the
national team in an emotional send off.

El Salvador went into the clash unchanged, with Albert Roca
opting to stick with the same 11 players that lined up in the 3-0
defeat to Colombia last week.

After a high-tempo start to the match, Plata opened the scoring
in the 16th minute, albeit with some help from a wicked
deflection.

Plata attempted a shot from outside the penalty area and it
somehow ended up in the back of the net.

Valencia made it 2-0 just two minutes later, coolly placing the
ball beyond Henry Hernandez after the El Salvador keeper's
clearance failed to clear the halfway line.

The gulf in class was apparent as Plata gave the South Americans
a three-goal lead in the 25th minute, beating his opponent before
tucking the ball underneath Hernandez for his second of the
match.

Juan Paredes gave away a penalty on the stroke of half-time for
handling the ball in the area and El Salvador striker Burgos
managed to squeeze the ball past Dominguez.

The second half was interrupted by substitutions but Ecuador
eventually got their fourth with 17 minutes remaining, Valencia
cutting inside the box and placing the ball into the bottom
corner.

Penilla came off the bench the bench and scored a goal of his
own in the 83rd minute, weaving his way past two defenders before
firing low and hard into the net.